Cyclists on SH16 this morning

[saxet]

I basically agree with the other posters in this thread. If you don't have a clear view of the road ahead that it's the rider's (or driver's) responsibility to maintain the ability to stop safely.

The problem with this ,as I see it, is no one does this including the enforcers of the law. It's easier for cyclists to obey this rule as they are usually travelling slower than other traffic, but even they can't always stop in the distance visible.

What does interest me is that if I come up behind cyclists, when driving, on a windy road and slow down to first while waiting for an opportunity to pass they keep giving me terrified looks over their shoulders at me while I'm doing what they want. me to.( being patient)

[FJRider]

Re Point 2: Riding two abreast is not permitted when passing, and that includes parked cars. So pic 1 is not permitted.

These are mums and dads, sisters and brothers, sons and daughters, husbands and wives and generally good people who sometimes make mistakes.

Just like motorcyclists.

Cheers - Chasio

I stand corrected ... and for those that believe this is incorrect (as I did) ...

Clause 11.10 of the Land Transport (Road User) Rule 2004 states:

"A person must not ride a cycle or moped on a roadway so that it remains abreast and to the right of-
(a) 2 other vehicles that are cycles or mopeds; or
(b) 1 other cycle or moped while that cycle or moped is overtaking and passing another vehicle, including a parked vehicle; ..."

Those "good people" aren't making a mistake ... they are choosing to break/ignore laws that are inconvenient at that time ... in the belief that they ALL wont be stopped and ticketed for the "Traffic Infringement" (as some motorcyclists do believe)

[chasio]

I stand corrected ... and for those that believe this is incorrect (as I did) ...

Clause 11.10 of the Land Transport (Road User) Rule 2004 states:

"A person must not ride a cycle or moped on a roadway so that it remains abreast and to the right of-
(a) 2 other vehicles that are cycles or mopeds; or
(b) 1 other cycle or moped while that cycle or moped is overtaking and passing another vehicle, including a parked vehicle; ..."

Those "good people" aren't making a mistake ... they are choosing to break/ignore laws that are inconvenient at that time ... in the belief that they ALL wont be stopped and ticketed for the "Traffic Infringement" (as some motorcyclists do believe)

In editing my post, you segue from the specific case of the photographs to the general make-up of cyclists in a manner that was not intended by me. I'll own that I could have made the distinction clearer in my original post.

To return to the specific case (based on the evidence presented here): had I been cycling near that bunch, I'd have been having a word because their approach was selfish, unnecessary and frustrating.

[slowlegs]

As a cyclist, a driver and someone who has ridden a scooter I get annoyed on two counts.

Firstly, cyclists are apparently allowed to ride two abreast unless passing when they must do so in single file. Like most road users it is the ones who do it wrong (or what we perceive as wrong) which attract our attention. A few years while practically riding my pushbike in the gutter I had my mirror clipped by some moronic hoon in a Subaru, almost caught the prick at the next set of traffic lights too. Now when I see a vehicle coming up behind me I put in the odd swerve/wobble on so they get the idea I may be an unpredictable rider and funnily enough it seems to work.

It seems like no matter how safely you try to ride a two wheel or small vehicle there is some inconsiderate twit doing their best to kill or maim you. Being a defensive cyclist/driver/rider is the best thing you can do to stay alive out there.

Did you also know that it is illegal to ride at a speed that you can't stop in half the clear distance ahead? I often see comments that people make about going into corners where there is a cyclist, etc on the road and they have a near miss - if you wouldn't be able to stop for a cyclist you wouldn't be able to stop for wandering stock, a child or a broken down b-train. I know which one I would rather hit but perhaps it is best not to put your self in a situation where you are unable to avoid something. By all means go hard through the twisty bits but do it where you can see what is coming the other way.

A while ago I considered another scooter, unfortunately they can't be ridden on a motorway. They also can't be ridden on the cycle paths beside the north western motorway. I am all for cycle paths but this restriction annoys me. If I were to buy a scooter to leave my home and go to the city I would have to ride all the way through Te Atatu South, Glendene, Avondale and Waterview, just to get there. That would add around half an hour to a trip.

Also, with the new Greenhithe motorway, there will quite possibly be no harbour crossing available for mopeds. Some will say I should just man up and buy a real bike but due to an injury I find it harder to ride my pushbike and a larger scooter is just too heavy for me to safely ride.

I just find it annoying that some who pay no road user charges than some among us who do pay road user charges, ACC levies but are able to ride in less places and seemingly have less rights than those who don't.

[FJRider]

As a cyclist, a driver and someone who has ridden a scooter I get annoyed on two counts.

Firstly, cyclists are apparently allowed to ride two abreast unless passing when they must do so in single file. Like most road users it is the ones who do it wrong (or what we perceive as wrong) which attract our attention.

It seems like no matter how safely you try to ride a two wheel or small vehicle there is some inconsiderate twit doing their best to kill or maim you. Being a defensive cyclist/driver/rider is the best thing you can do to stay alive out there.

Did you also know that it is illegal to ride at a speed that you can't stop in half the clear distance ahead? I often see comments that people make about going into corners where there is a cyclist, etc on the road and they have a near miss - if you wouldn't be able to stop for a cyclist you wouldn't be able to stop for wandering stock, a child or a broken down b-train.

A while ago I considered another scooter, unfortunately they can't be ridden on a motorway. They also can't be ridden on the cycle paths beside the north western motorway. I am all for cycle paths but this restriction annoys me.

Also, with the new Greenhithe motorway, there will quite possibly be no harbour crossing available for mopeds. Some will say I should just man up and buy a real bike but due to an injury I find it harder to ride my pushbike and a larger scooter is just too heavy for me to safely ride.

I just find it annoying that some who pay no road user charges than some among us who do pay road user charges, ACC levies but are able to ride in less places and seemingly have less rights than those who don't.

You are annoyed because you aren't allowed to use the cycle lane on your scooter ??? ...

The LAW is there for the safety of the cyclists ... not just to inconvenience you ... or remove any "rights" you (may think you should) have .... simply because you pay registration/ACC levies ...

The policy/laws of no scooters on motorways, is for the safety of scooter riders. Again ... NOT to remove any "rights" ...

Those laws you feel your "rights" have been ignored, are there for YOUR safety too.

Why do you feel it is your "rights" that have been ignored/removed by laws that you find inconvenient .... for you ... ???

[chasio]

Slowlegs, I agree with you on a few fronts but mopeds on cycleways? No.

Mixing mopeds and bicycles is asking for crashes. Plenty of 50cc mopeds have been modded to do 70kmh on the flat, probably past 80 downhill. That's just asking for trouble when cyclists are not expecting to be passed at those kinds of speeds.

Putting a 120kg person on an 60kg moped may not get the speed above, but it would certainly load the structures used in a rather different way to your average cyclist.

Also can you tell a Vespa LX50 (moped) from an LX150 (motorcycle) from a distance? Or a modded SJ50 from a stock one? I can't.

But you have my sympathy regarding the Upper Harbour Bridge being classified as a motorway.

Chasio

PS - What's the lightest 125-ish cc scooter out there? The AN125 is 99kg, I see.

[Voltaire]

Road out SH 16 this morning at about 8.00...even then there were cyclists.......just past Helensville there was a "gaggle" of geese on the side of the road....I slowed down just in case.....
Woodcocks road has just been resealed and there were sweepers operating....once again I was compelled to slow down....and as if from nowhere came a group of cyclists....mainly middle aged blokes with beards and glasses....OMG....what if I had never got a bike licence....it could have been me........95kgs don't look good in lycra...

[pzkpfw]

Did you also know that it is illegal to ride at a speed that you can't stop in half the clear distance ahead?

Your point is valid, but specifically, "half" is for un-laned roads. (Which does cover many of the country roads where these "conflicts" occur...)

[pc220]

This attitude pisses me off. As someone who is paying rego on two bikes and a car (I guess around $1400 a year right?), I think I pay my fair share of ACC levies, and I imagine most other cyclists are paying levies through their motorised vehicles they own too - I don't know why so many people seem to assume someone on a bicycle is a full-time cyclist and pays nothing to be there.

I've found as I've recently gotten back into cycling on the road that if you think car drivers don't notice you on a motorbike, it's a whole new level on a bicycle, and you feel a shittonne more vulnerable out there too.

I think everyone - truckies, cages, bikers and cyclists all need to get out of their idiotic and destructive mindset that they have more right to be on the road than everyone else. It's really quite nice going through life not hating everybody else on the road.

Blame ACC for their targeting of differant groups with individual fees. One levy for all would go a long way towards easing the tension.

[thepom]

Worst I seen today comng back to chch were the two idiot car drivers overtaking a cyclist on a bend and one woman had a child in the passenger seat....missed me both times...wankers...

[Flip]

This lot give me the shits.

Wrong side of the road, blind corner etc etc etc.

[Flip]

Lets not forget the rolling traffic blocking maneuver.

[Swoop]

As a motorcyclist AND cyclist...

Just reading the road code might be a good start. Or even just learning how to read.

Also, as a cyclist (occasionally) and a motorcyclist...

Mr Darwin needs to up his game with the pschylists who ride in groups. Obviously they need to consider reading the road code.

[baptist]

Lets not forget the rolling traffic blocking maneuver.

Ref your second picture, is that going up hill? That is the kind of thing that does drive other road users bonkers it does me. The guys on the outside...

[BoristheBiter]

Well according to your sig (Kiwibiker Dirt Divison) I assume you probably engage in other somewhat dangerous activities that you don't pay ACC levies for...

On that i should be able to ride my dirt bike on the road as i pay reg/ACC on 2 bikes, 1 truck and 4 cars with ruc on 3 of them.